How to watch Messi, Inter Miami vs Independiente del Valle in friendly

27 Feb, 2026

How to watch Messi, Inter Miami vs Independiente del Valle in friendly:

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have a weird quirk in their schedule: They’ll return to action on Thursday, Feb. 26 for a preseason friendly despite playing their MLS season opener last weekend.

Messi and Inter Miami face Ecuadorian LigaPro Serie A champions Independiente del Valle at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The club also held an open training session for fans on Wednesday, Feb. 25 after arriving in Puerto Rico.

Messi is expected to play in the match, but Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano likely will use a rotation of players with the club scheduled to play on the road against Orlando City on Sunday, March 1.

"The game clearly gives us the opportunity to give minutes to guys who have had fewer minutes in the preseason and in the last league game we had, but we are going to try to get everyone to play," Mascherano said in a news conference before the match.

The match was supposed to be the fourth and final preseason tilt for the reigning MLS Cup champions, but it was postponed from its original Feb. 13 date due to Messi sustaining a recurring left hamstring injury. Messi posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, apologizing to fans for the postponement.

It was a far cry from the confrontational manner he showed referees, following their season-opening 3-0 loss to LAFC on Saturday, Feb. 21.

More: Lionel Messi regrets not learning English: 'What an idiot'

Messi was demonstratively upset after the match, needing to be held back by close friend and teammate Luis Suárez while confronting officials in the tunnel area at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Messi was fouled at least twice near the penalty area during the match, but those fouls were not called in his favor.

MLS said Messi did not break any rules entering a public space, and won’t face any disciplinary action for the matter, according to reports.

"We’re calm. The result wasn’t what we expected, obviously, but there’s plenty of time to keep working and turn the situation around," Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcon said of the defeat.